Kanye West's latest Grammy rant

Kanye West addressed his Grammy nominations, or lack thereof, during his show at Phoenix¿s US Airways Center Tuesday night.

Kanye West addressed his Grammy nominations, or lack thereof, during his show at Phoenix¿s US Airways Center Tuesday night. (John Parra / Getty Images for Surface Magazine)

Gerrick D. Kennedy

There comes a point at every Kanye West concert where he addresses the crowd and riffs on whatever is on his mind -- which is usually a lot.

Whether he’s venting about his position in the fashion world, media perceptions, defending why he’s labeled himself a genius or fawning over fiancée Kim Kardashian, his onstage monologues are instant fodder for blogs, mostly dismissing what West said as another rant (and he’s had plenty).

During Tuesday night’s show at Phoenix’s US Airways Center, a tiny part of his onstage address was dedicated to his Grammy nominations, or lack thereof, in his opinion.

" 'Yeezus' is the top one or two album on every single [critic's] list. But only gets two nominations from the Grammys,” said West, while wearing one of the many masks he sports during the ambitious production. “What are they trying to say?”

West has long had a gripe with the Recording Academy. Despite being the fifth most nominated artist of all time and winning 21 trophies over the last decade, the rapper-producer has never landed a win for album of the year.

“Yeezus,” like 2010’s transcendent “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” didn’t land a nod for album of the year, though both releases were critically praised. But "Yeezus" is West’s most experimental and polarizing offering: There's his frequent missives about, well, everything and nothing as well as his frequent religious references (Note: never call yourself a god).

West is up for rap album, and "Yeezus' " punishing single "New Slaves" is in the running for rap song -- so there’s that, at least.

We won’t say that “Yeezus” should be in the running for album of the year -- most talked about, sure -- it is, however, a pity the album’s soulful love ode, “Bound 2,” got snubbed in the rap/sung category in favor of two Jay Z tracks.

But maybe the academy is still confused over West's splendidly weird video featuring an apparently topless Kardashian, a gaggle of horses and a lot of simulated motorcycle sex.